Not so fast, Christian soldiers

LA Times ^ | 22 August 2007 | Editorial Staff

[shrinkermd]

Last week, after an investigation spurred by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the Pentagon abruptly announced that it would not be delivering "freedom packages" to our soldiers in Iraq, as it had originally intended.

What were the packages to contain? Not body armor or home-baked cookies. Rather, they held Bibles, proselytizing material in English and Arabic and the apocalyptic computer game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" (derived from the series of post-Rapture novels), in which "soldiers for Christ" hunt down enemies who look suspiciously like U.N. peacekeepers.

The packages were put together by a fundamentalist Christian ministry called Operation Straight Up, or OSU. Headed by former kickboxer Jonathan Spinks, OSU is an official member of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program. The group has staged a number of Christian-themed shows at military bases, featuring athletes, strongmen and actor-turned-evangelist Stephen Baldwin. But thanks in part to the support of the Pentagon, Operation Straight Up has now begun focusing on Iraq, where, according to its website (on pages taken down last week), it planned an entertainment tour called the "Military Crusade."

[Marysecretary]

Me, too. Thanks for all you do to support our fine men and women over in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know they appreciate it.

[Spiff]

At that point, there's not believe and not believe.

Should read:
At that point, there's no believe or not believe.

[Non-Sequitur]

I’m guessing it had more to do with the game, than the bible.

The game, and the literature for the soldiers to hand out. They're not there to drum up converts for Operation Straight Up.

[Cogadh na Sith]

The ARMY was NEVER sending out these packages. The private group Operation Straight Up (OSU) was putting the packages together (and still is -- just without the video game) and sending them to deployed troops.

Well, the military still has to use it's aircrafts and ships to ship that stuff....

Greeting card 75 Minute Phone Card White Socks Baby Wipes (suggested by Col Oliver North) Gideon’s pocket size New Testament Extreme Sports “Livin It” DVD and an assortment of snacks.

There is nothing wrong with that stuff. Good for them.

[Marysecretary]

Tag line’s much better.

It’s not really logic. It’s YOUR way of looking at things, just as I have MY way of looking at things. OPINIONS. We’re all good at that.

[gondramB]

>>”Sorry, but these people sending these Bibles and extremist video games have ulterior motives.”

Oh my...pifff. LOL. What’s their “motive” mister religion police man? Are you afraid the poor unsuspecting wittle fellas might be exposed to EVIL evangelicalism? Wow...we sure are getting slap happy with those parental controls.<<

For one thing that video game is awful. Somebody got stuck with a million copies and if they donate them they can likely write them off so in effect this is tax payer funded.

[cinives]

So what ? Can’t you make up your own mind whether it’s appropriate for you and ditch it if it’s not, or are you one of those “I have a right to not be offended” people who need others to pre-screen any communications just in case you might choose to be offended today ?

[Cogadh na Sith]

As a long-time chaplain, I am certain that army regs take the position that a soldier is not deprived of any religious rights SUBJECT TO military necessity.

There you go. Thanks, padre. That's all I'm sayin....

[dooltotheend]

I know that many Americans have little or no knowledge about the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Many people may not even know that each service has a Chaplain Corps. These Corps are comprised of priests, pastors, rabbis and mullahs from all major faiths. For the most part they are a very evangelical group. They must be prepared to preach in accordance with the religious services, protocols and beliefs of all the major religions they are likely to encounter. Their job is to minister to all the souls in the units to which they are assigned. It is impossible for every faith to be represented in every unit. It’s a cliche, but also apt “there ain’t no atheists in a foxhole”. I think there is an evangelistic prohibition. But if some one comes to a chaplian from another faith and wishes to explore conversion the chaplain is not prohibited from pursuing the matter. If there are any Chaplains out there feel free to chime in.

[VRWCmember]

There is nothing wrong with that stuff. Good for them.

For future reference, it might be a good idea to get input from someone other than the LA Times editorial board on stories in any way related to religion in general and specifically to Christianity. Since they had so many details of this story factually incorrect, many people drew incorrect conclusions about the OSU organization, and the content of what they were sending to the troops. I personally think that the video game was probably pretty lame by most "gamers'" standards but that there was nothing wrong with including the game in the packages. However, OSU apparently felt it was more important to get the packages to the troops than to try to set the record straight on the games or fight to keep them in the packages.

[goldstategop]

Liberals wouldn't raise a fuss if The Pentagon shipped Korans to our troops. Its only Bibles that has them up in arms.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[GovernmentShrinker]

“Proselytizing material in Arabic” is apt to provoke violence against any soldiers/units known to the local Muslim extremists to be in possession of it. Refusing to deliver that was the right call. It would be very detrimental to our military-political effort there to have the US military involved in distributing such material.

The computer game sounds like a hoot!

[Cogadh na Sith]

I personally think that the video game was probably pretty lame by most "gamers'" standards but that there was nothing wrong with including the game in the packages.

Of course not and Battlefield Earth was just a fun science fiction movie and Dianetics is a cool sci-fi book.

[George W. Bush]

Interesting take. How about if the soldiers are merely supplying local Christians with Arabic materials? Or Muslims who are curious? And would you agree that our soldiers are entitled to receive copies of the Koran or other religious writings in either Arabic or English when off-duty?

Naturally, I do agree that our soldiers are not entitled to be missionaries any more than they are entitled to promote racism or other ideas contrary to military policy.

[George W. Bush]

Somebody got stuck with a million copies and if they donate them they can likely write them off so in effect this is tax payer funded.

So you're primarily objecting to tax writeoffs for bad video games? Or just the ones with a religious theme?

[VRWCmember]

I’m not sure I get your point. I guess some folks might find it objectionable for a private group to send those two items to our troops. I’m guessing most of the troops would toss the Battlefield Earth movie or the Dianetics book in the trash while keeping the other goodies in the care package.

[gondramB]

>>Somebody got stuck with a million copies and if they donate them they can likely write them off so in effect this is tax payer funded.

---

So you’re primarily objecting to tax writeoffs for bad video games? Or just the ones with a religious theme?<<

Neither, I’m mainly bitching about a really bad video game that shouldn’t inflicted on soldiers.

My suggestion was to drop the game and send home made cookies with a Bible and that would almost certainly get through.

But this donation likely is not about the Bible so much as the video game.

[George W. Bush]

"Proselytizing material in Arabic"

I wouldn't be so quick to assume that that phrase means what it sounds like. This was written by the LAT, not exactly a friend of any religion. The computer game sounds like a hoot!

Yeah, and apparently we we might get a tax writeoff for buying a copy. Which button do you hit to fire at a blue-helmet anyway? LOL.

[George W. Bush]

Neither, I’m mainly bitching about a really bad video game that shouldn’t inflicted on soldiers.

Hey, you guys objecting to this game: are you aware you can play the Antichrist side and be a blue-helmet shooting the Christians? I'm sure you'll want a copy of your very own now.

And if you're serving in Iraq, I think you're entitled to the game and to play either side. Just like Christian soldiers are.

[gondramB]

In case anybody is curious about the game here is a typical review but you can decide for yourself - the Demo is free to download and play.



http://www.vgpro.com/games/pc/left_behind_eternal_forces